Can body necking-in machine



CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z M ,WM BY ZWW 0/2 dm W ATTOENEYS y 1945. J. F. PETERS 2,380,462

CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 31, 1945. I J. F. PETERS 2,380,452 1 CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

9 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. F. PETERS CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed may 21, 1942 5% Q 1 WWW W Mi I w \w B r V \N \M l. \k\ v w %.I, M. Mn V \n E r R \Q \QIIN Q A T To/vEYs July 31, 1945. J. F. PETERS CAN BODY NECKING IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 k 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

jfiau g g Z 4 1 ZRZW A TTO wit-vs July 31, 1945.

July 31, 1945. J. F. PETERS ,4

' CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TOR.

'4 TTOENEYS July 31, 1945. J. F. PETERS CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE Filed May 21, 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

ATTOENEYS July 31,1945. J. F. PETERS CAN BODY NECKING-IN MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed May 21, 1942 M t BY AQZQ Z4 m 54% A TTOENEY-S Patented July 31, 1945 CAN BODY NECKlNG-IN MACHINE John F. Peters, Leonie. N. L, asslgnor to American- Can tion of New Jersey Company New York, N. Y., a corpora- Appllcationhlay 21, 1942, Serial No. 444,000

2 Claims.

- This invention relates to a machine for preparing tubular fibre can or container-bodies for the reception of can and members and has particular reference to a machine for necking-in or beading such can bodies adjacent their ends preparatory to assembling the can end members therewith.

The machine disclosed in the accompanying drawings and described herein is adapted for use in the manufacture of fibre milk containers of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,085,979, issued July .6. 1937, to. John M. Hothersall, on Container.

In the treatment of light weight fibre can bodies it sometimes is desirable during their manufacture to move the body into and out of work performing devices located along a path of travel through which such bodies move. The light weight of the bodies in some instances creates'dimcultles in properly moving and locating them relative to the work performing devices particularly at high speed and this sometimes deforms the bodies so that the can, end members will not fit properly upon their being assembled with the bodies. a

The present invention contemplates overcoming this diiliculty by providing a plurality of revolving necking-in devices which are arranged to op- "erate on opposite ends of can bodies as the latter are being advanced continuously at high speed through the machine. An obiect of the invention is the provision of a machine for necking-in i'lbre can bodies wherein the bodies advance continuously along a path of travel adjacent work performing devices which neck-in or reshape the end portions of the bodies to form a seat therein for a can end.

Another object is the provision in such a machine of work performing devices which clamp an end portion of an inserted can body prior to the necking-in operation and hold it with a slip grip during the necking-in operation to facilitate shaping of a can end seat. 7

Another object is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the work performing devices revolve through an arcuate path of travel and are accompanied by laterally movable gripper fingers for shifting the can bodies into and out of the work performing devices for the necking-ln operation while the bodies are continuously advanced through the machine.

Numerous other obiects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which. m

takeninconnection'wi'ththsaccom drawings. thereof.

Referring to the drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of the machine embodying the instant invention with parts broken away and showing can bodies in place in the machine:

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. l. with parts broken away, the view also showing can bodies in place in the machine and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one end of the ma chine the view being taken from the right as viewed in Fig. i with parts being broken away;

Figs. 4 and 5 when taken together illustrate a transverse section on an enlarged scale as viewed erformed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 6-4 in Fig. 5 with parts broken away;

Fi 7 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 4 and drawn to the same enlarged scale;

Fi 8 is a sectional detail viewed substantially along the line, 0-8 in Fig. 7 drawn to the same scale and showing the initial grippin fingers enaging an end of a can body shown in section;

Fig. 9 is a view taken substantially along the line l-i in Fig. 6, and showing a front viewof a necking-in head, with parts broken away and parts in section. and with a can body shown in section; a

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line ill-IO in Fig. 6. with parts broken away and Parts in section;

FlgJlisavlewsimiIartoFiIJshowingthe necking-in head parts in a different position;

Fig. 12 is a side view of the necking-in head showninl'igaband 11 withafragmentofa necking-in head disc, the latter being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view through the necking-in head taken substantially along the line iS-lt inl ig. 5,withpartsinsection;

Fi 14 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line ll-M in Fig. 5, with parts broken away and showing the necking-in head squeeser laws in an operative position;

Flg.l5isaviewsimilarto!ig.i4andshowing I discloses a preferred embodiment illustrate the machine in general.

the necking-in head parts in an inoperative position;

Figs. 16 and, 17 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines Iii-I6, l1--l1 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged perspective view showing the details of an inner squeezer jaw; and

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing another form of gripping finger which is used for engaging necked-in bodies. i

The machine embodyin the present invention is adapted to receive open ended tubular articles, such as fibre can bodies A (Figs. 2 and which are illustrated as being of square cross-section. These can bodies are placed in stack formation within a magazine 31 .(Fig. 2). The lowermost body in this magazine drops into a double pocket 32 of a rotating intake transfer double turret 33 located at the feed end of the machine. The can bodies thereafter are advanced through the machine by a series of carriers or continuously rotating turrets which are operated with and along the path of work performing devices as will be described at this time.

. Individual can bodies are advanced by the intake turret 33 and are transferred into a double pocket 35 of a carrier or'necking-in double turret 35 located in the upper part of the machine (Figs. 2 and 5). This necking-in turret is rotatable in unison with an adjacent necking-in head disc 38 at an initial work performing or necking-in station. A plurality of necking-in heads 31 are bolted to the disc and are revolved in axial alignment with the turret pockets at so that the can bodies maybe shifted transversely of the machine into the necking-in heads 31 for necking-in one end of the shifted bodies.

The can bodies upon being necked-in at one end are withdrawn from the necking-in heads and are deposited into a double pocket 33 in a transfer double turret 39. This turret carries the can bodies downwardly through an arcuate path of travel and places them into a pocket 42 in a second carrier or necking-in turret 48 (Figs. 1

This turret like turret 35 is operated and 2). simultaneously with a lower necking-in head disc 68 which is similar to the disc 36. In like manner the disc 45 carries a plurality of necking-in heads 46 which are similar to necking-in heads 3?.

The can bodies upon being placed into the pocket ,42 in the necking-in turret 43 again are shifted, this time in the opposite direction for insertion into the necking-in heads 45 so that the Referring now to the machine in detail, reference first should be had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which These figures show that the working parts of the machine are supported on a pair of vertical side frames 52, 53 which constitute the main frame of the manarrow end rails 53, 32 which areheld together by side rails 63. The lower end of the guides 33 are curved and extend concentrically around the intake turret 33 and thus hold the can bodies in place in their pockets 32 of the turret.

The intake turret 33 is mounted on a transverse shaft 84 joumaled in bearings formed in the frames 52, i3. A gear secured on one end of this shaft is driven by a gear 36 secured to the end of a shaft 61 (Fig. 3). The gear 86 is driven by gears 68, 69 mounted on and secured to respective shafts 12, 13, the latter being the main drive shaft of the machine and thus may be driven from any suitable source.

The necking-in turret 35 is secured to the shaft 81 and is disposed centrally of the machine at the initial necking-in station. The necking-in head disc 38 carrying the necking-in heads 31 also is secured to this shaft, to the right of the turret 359 as viewed in Figs. v1 and 5.

A can body A received from the intake turret 33 and resting in one of the double pockets 3t chine and which are secured to a base 54. The a magazine 3| is mounted centrally between these frames on cross rods 55, 38 the ends of which are carried in each of the frames. The magazine comprises angula'rly disposed guides 51, BI and of the turret 35 is in such a position that one end of the body is in alignment and is adjacent to one of the necking-in heads 31. Shifting of the can body laterally of its turret pocket and into necking-in position within its associated head at the initial necking-in station, is effected by an aligned pusher head 16. There are four of these pusher heads 16, located one each in alignment with each of the necking-in heads 31. Each of the pusher heads 16 is disposed within a recess 11 formed in a pusher head holder 18 mounted on the shaft 61 (toward the left as in Figs. 1 and 4).

Each of the pusher heads 16 has an inner aligning chuck 19 formed thereon which is adapted to enter the open end of a can body A resting in its aligned double pocket 34 of the turret 35. A pusher head wall 30 also is formed on each pusher head and this wall is square in shape and larger than the cross sectional area of the can body with which it engages.

Each pusher head 16 is formed with a square stem 82 which slides in a bearing 83 in the pusher he'ad holder 18. The square cross section of the stem holds the pusher head thereon in alignment with the can body A. A cam roller 86 carried on the end of each stem 82 operates v in a cam groove 85 of a stationary cam 86 which is secured to the side frame 52. The pusher heads 16 thus are reciprocated in the head holder 18 through an inward'or pusher stroke and thence outwardly through a withdrawing stroke while the holder is rotated simultaneously with the turret 35 and with the necking-in head disc 33 on the shaft 61.

In order to hold a can body A on a chuck it, two gripper fingers 81 are provided andcarried by each pusher head 16 (Figs. 4 ,7 and 8). These fingers grip the exterior Walls of the can body from opposite sides and hold it securely against the chuck. Such fingers are carried on 'pivot pins 88 mounted in lugs 89 formed on opposing sides of the pusher heads. The grip end of each finger has an enlarged portion as at 92 which has its inner face serrated in gripper teeth 93. The

other end of each gripper finger is engaged by a. spring barrel 94 (see Fig. 8) carried in a bore that extends transversely of the head. The bore contains a spring 95 the ends of which fit into the two barrels and'press themoutwardly against the fingers '31. This forces the gripper teeth 33 against the outside of a can body when aligned on the chuck 13.

when a pusher/ head 13' moves through a right as viewed in Fig. 4, intoa necking-in head 31 (Fig. 5). reshaping of one end of the body along an inclined section B adjoining a shoulder C as hereinbefore explained. Such reshaping preferably is done by a plurality of inner and outer squeezer or necking-in jaws I02, I03 which are carried in each head 31 and which are movable toward each other in the usual manner for effecting the reshaping of the can bodies.

The inner squeezer jaws I02 preferably are square in contour with aninner corner cutoff and forming a flat tapered actuating surface I04 (Figs. 9, 11, 15 and 18). There are four of these jaws in each head and they'are grouped around a centrally located tapered expanding plug I05 in a square formation. This adapts the jaws for insertion within the end of the square can body and locates'one outer corner of each jaw adjacent a corresponding corner of the can body. The outer edges of each jaw I02 are formed with straight shoulders or holding faces I06 and adjacent inwardly inclined or tapered forming faces I01 (see also Fig. 5).

The jaws I02 ar'formed on the inner ends of slide members I08 which slide in gibs I09 (Fig. 12) secured in wide radial grooves H in the necking-in head 31. A circular coiled spring I II (Figs. and 14) disposed within arcuate grooves I I2 formed in the back of the slide members hold the grouped jawsin engagement with the expanding plug I05.

The expanding plug I05 is mounted on the inner end of an actuating rod I I3 which is carried in a bearing I I4 formed in the necking-in head 31. The rod extends through the middle of the head and through the disc 36 on which the head is bolted. The outer end of the rod carries a shoe I I5 (see also Fig. which supports a cam roller 6. The cam roller operates in a cam groove I I1, formed in a stationary barrel cam'I I8 which surrounds the hub of the disc 36 and which is bolted to the adjacent side frame 53. The shoe H5 is formed with side wings II9 which engage the periphery of the cam and thus hold the expanding plug rod II3 against turning.

This is done as an incident to the cated adjacent to and "in front of the inner jaw slide members I08.

Each outer squeezer jaw I03 is formed with a V-notch I43 which corresponds to a corner of a can body. Each notch defines inwardly tapered forming faces I44 which align with and which correspond to the tapered forming faces I01 on the inner jaws I02, as best shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the outer jaw slide members I35 carries a yieldable holding jaw I45 which is disposed in a dovetail recess I46 (Figs. 5, 14, 15, 16, 17) formed in the backs of the jaw slide members. Adjacent its outer end, each holding jaw I45 is backed up by a pair of compression springs I41 which are interposed between the outer end of the jaw and slide member adjacent the end of its recess I46. The springs are retained in sockets I48 formed in the holding jaw. It is these springs that provide the yieldable elements of the jaws.

Each holding jaw I45 is retained in its slide recess I46 against the resistance of the springs I41 by a key I49 which is secured to the slide member within the recess I46. The ends of the key project into grooves I50 formed in the holding jaw. The ends of these grooves set off a pair of stop shoulders I5I, I52 which are engageable by the key and which limit the travel of the jaw within its recess I46.

The inner ends of the holding jaws I45 normally project inwardly of the irmer ends of the outer squeezer jaws I 03 and are formed with V-shaped notches I53 which define straight holding faces I54 thatcorrespond with the holding faces I06 on the inner jaws I02.

Hence while a can body is in a head 31 and while the inner jaws I02 are moving outwardly to engage the inside surfaces of the body, the outer jaws I03 are moving inwardly to engage the outside surfaces of the body. During this move- Hence as the shaft 61 rotates the head disc travel, the cam groove H1 and the cam roller I I6 shift the rod I I3 inwardly, as viewed in Fig. 5, and thus force the tapered expanding plug I05 inwardly along the tapered surfaces I04 of the jaws I02.

This action forces the jaws outwardly and thusbring the holding and the forming faces I06, I01 into engagement with the inside wall surfaces of the can. body. These jaw faces merely touch the can body-surfaces and do not expand the body. Simultaneously with this shifting of the inner jaws I02, the outer jaws I03 move in and cooperate with the inner jaws to effect the reshaping of the can body, as will now be described.

There are four outer squeezer jaws I03 in each head, one for each inner jaw I02. The outer jaws are formed as a part of and are disposed on the inner ends of slide members.l35. These slide in gibs I33 (Figs. 9, 11 and 12), disposed in stepped recesses I42 located adjacent to and in front of the grooves H0 in the necking-in heads 31. The

- outer jaw slide members I36 are therefore 10- ment of the'outer jaws, the yieldable holding jaws I45 engage the body first and clamp the marginal edges of the body against the holding surfaces I06 of the inner jaws I02 in a so-called slip-grip. This slip grip action is desirable to compensate for the reduction in length in the necking-in of the body and thus allows slippage at the marginal work edge since the opposite end of the can body is held firmly by the gripper fingers 01. i

As the outer jaws I03 continue to move in against the can body, the tapered forming faces I44 press the body wall into place against the tapered forming faces I01 of the inner jaws I02. It is this action that reshapes or necks in the can body to form the inclined section B and the adjoining shoulder C (Fig. 5),. as hereinbefore explained.

Shifting of the outer squeezer jaws I 03 through an inward or forming stroke and then outwardly through a return stroke is effected by pivot pins I55 carried in each of the jaw slide members I36. These pins extend back through elongated openings formed in the inner jaw slide member I08 (see Fig. 18) and terminate in suitable bearings formed in the outer ends of eccentric crank arms I66. There are four of these crank arms, one

for each outer slide member I35 and they are a gear I62 and these gears are held against lateral displacement by a plate I63 which is bolted to the back of each of the heads 31. The gears I62 are grouped around and mesh with a head gear I64 which surrounds each plug actuating rod II3. Each head gear is formed with hubs which are journaled in the necking-in head 31 and in the plate I63.

The head gear I64 is driven from a' driving gear I65 (see Fig. 6) by a slot and tongue connection I66 which includes a plurality of slots and tongues formed in the adjacent ends of the hubs of the head gear and the driving gear (see Figs. 5 and 12) There are four of thesedriving gears (Fig. 6) one for each head 31, and they are held in place by an annular plate I61 which is bolted to the back of the disc.

These driving gears are formed with hubs which are journaled in suitable bearings formed in the disc and in the plate. The gears mesh with and are driven by a stationary ring gear I68 which surrounds the hub of the disc 36 and which is bolted to the cam H8 on. the frame 53. Thus as the shaft 61 rotates the disc 36, the driving gears I65 revolve about the ring gear I68. Hence through the tongue and slot connections I66, each gear I65 rotates the connecting head gear I64 and its meshing gears I62. It is this turning of the ears I62 that rotates the eccentric pins I58 and through them actuate the eccentric arms I56 and the outer jaw slide members I35 pivotally connected thereto. This action is timed with the action of the cam actuated inner squeezer jaws I02 and thus brings about the proper cooperation to neck in the can bodies at one end (Fig. 5).

It should be understood that the shifting and necking-in of the can bodies is carried out at this initial necking-in station while they are carried around a circular path of travel in the double pockets of the rotating double turret 35, as hereinbefore described; The bodies are retained in these pockets by curved double guides I69 which extend concentrically around the turret 35. These guides like guides 58 are mounted centrally between the frames on the cross rod 55 and on an auxiliary cross rod I18. The ends of the auxiliary cross rod are carried in each ofthe side frames 52, 53.

The action of each necking-in head 81 is continuous, i. e., onegrevolution of the disc 86 carries the necking-in head through one complete cycle. Can bodies A now are ready to be withdrawn from the necking-in head for transfer into the pocket 38 of turret 38.

In order to withdraw a can body from the necking-in head 31 the corresponding pusher head 16 (Figs. 4, 5 and ,8) i531 shifted by the actuating cam 86 to the left as viewed in Fig. 4. After this withdrawing action and when the can body reaches a centralized position in its turret 35, the gripper fingers 81 release the body so that it will be in position for further advancement. This release is brought about by cam action. For this purpose the outer ends of the fingers 81 are beveled thereby providing a tapered cam surface "I for each finger which engages against an inclined surface I12 formed on a web section I13 located in the pusher head recess 11 of the head holder 18.

There are two web sections for each recess corresponding to the two fingers. Engagement of the beveled fingers with the cam sections as a pusher-head recedes, presses the rear ends of the fingers inwardly against the spring barrels. 84, and thus compresses the spring 85. It is thi action that releases the gripper fingers 81 from encasement, with the can body as it reaches the central position in' the turret. The pusher head 16 continues movement to the left after the body is centralized until the chuck 18 is clear of the can body (Fig. 1).

The centralized and released can body A has now reached the bottom of the turret 35 (Fig. 2) where it enters one of the double pockets 38 of the transfer turret 38 whereupon it is moved downwardly through a curved path of travel. The can body A is held in place in the double turret pocket 38 by a pair of curved guides I14. guides like guides 58, I69 also are mounted centrally between the frames on the cross rod 56 and on an auxiliary cross rod I15. The ends of the cross rod I15 are carried in the frames 52, 53.

From the transfer turret 38, the can body is picked up by the double pocket 42 in the second necking-in turret 43. The can body deposited in the turret pocket 42 is in alignment with one of the necking-in heads 45 (Fig. 1) These necking-in heads 45 are located on the opposite side of the machine in respect to the heads 31 but are otherwise identical in form and are operated in the same manner. It is thought that a, description of the heads 45- may be omitted to avoid repetition.

It will be recalled that at the initial necking-in station after the necking-in operation, one end of the can body remained straight and unaltered. Hence the chuck 18 and. the gripper fingers 81 (Fig. 8) used at this station are designed to hold onto a straight end can body. At the second necking-in station now to be considered, one end of the body is already necked-in and hence this end will be engaged in shifting the body. For this purpose pusher heads I16 (Fig. 19) are provided. In general, these are of the same construction' as the pusher heads 16 hereinbefore mentioned.

Each pusher head I16 has a chuck I11 which s formed with beveled edges I18, which provide clearance for the necked-in end B of the can body. Modified gripper fingers I18 are carried by the head I16 and each finger has a hooked shaped outer end I88 which engages in the inclined necked-in section B and extends over the shoulder section C. This grips the body duringthe time its opposite end is moving into the necking-in head 45. This shifting is followed by the reshaping and withdrawing operations in the head 45. The

double turret 43 during these operations advances the can body in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig.- 2) along a curved path of travel. Curved double guides I84 hold the can body in place within the double pocket 42 at such a time. These guides also are mounted centrally of the machine 8 on rods I85, I86 carried in the frames 52, 53.

Continuous rotation of the turret 48 carries the completely necked-in can bodies A into a position adjacent the double discharge turret 41 (Fig. 2)

and deposits the bodies into the pockets 46 of the discharge turret. Turret 41' is mounted on and is rotated with a transverse shaft I81, which is journaled in bearings formed in the frames 52, 53. A gear I88 secured at one end of shaft I81 meshes with and is driven from the gear 69 mounted on the main drive shaft of the machine (Fig. 3).

Can bodies deposited in the pockets '46 of the discharge turret 41 are carried clockwise (Fig. 2)

along a curved path of traveL and are discharged intothe chute 48. Curved double guide rails I88 concentric with the turret 41 retain the can bodies These in the discharge pockets 48 until they are advanced into the chute 48. This chute will direct the can bodies to any suitable place of deposit.

Extension I92 vof the guide rails I89 project out over the chute l8 and thus confine the can bodies in the chute. The guides I89 also are mounted centrally of the machine. At one end the guides are mounted on the rod I15 which is carried in the frames 52, 53. The extensions I92 may be supported in any suitable manner as by vertical bars I93.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoingdescription, audit will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a machine for necking-in the body walls of tubular fibre containers, the combination of a plurality of contiguous rotatable turrets each having peripheral pockets for recelvingand continuously advancingvcontainer bodies along a predetermined path of travel, means rotatable with and mounted at one end of one of. said turrets for ofsaid turrets and in reverse position thereon relative tothe respective necking -in and shifting means on said first mentioned turret for thereafter performing said shift!!! and necking-in operations inrespect to the container body wall and inwardly of the opposite end thereof, and means for transferring said containers from the first to the second mentioned turret without interrupting the continuous advancement of the containers.

2. In a machine for necking-in the body walls of tubular fibre containers, the combination of a pair of rotatable turrets disposed in vertically spaced relation, each turret having peripheral pockets therein for receiving and continuously advancing the container bodies along a predetermined path of travel, die'mechanism rotatable with and mounted at one end of the upper turret for engaging and necking-in a container body wall inwardly of an end thereof, a pusher member rotatable with and mounted at the opposite end of said upper turret for shifting a container endwise into and out of operative relation to said die mechanism on the turret, corresponding necking-in die mechanism and-a pusher member rotatable with and respectively mounted on opposite ends of the lower turret and in reverse position thereon relative to the respective necking-in die mechanism' and pusher member on said upper turret for thereafter performing said shifting and necking-in operations in respect to the container body wall and inwardly of the opposite end thereof, an intermediately disposed turret for receiving and transferring said containers from the upper turret to the lower turret without interrupting ets of the latter.

. v JOHN F. PETERS. 

